Not to throw yet another monkey wrench into your commuting plans, but you might have noticed some giant cranes popping up around the Tappan Zee Bridge. Why are they there? Because the state is currently undertaking a rather gargantuan plan of upgrading the bridge to allow for a huge increase in traffic over the years (recent estimates put the number at over 138,000 cars passing over the bridge every day, quite a few more than its original capacity). Not only will the bridge’s infrastructure be upgraded, it will also be widened and shoulders added.

What does this mean for you, our upstate commuters? At some point, the bridge is going to be closed to allow for construction, and that means you’ll need to pick another route to get to and from the city. We don’t yet know when that’s going to happen, but we suggest you keep your eyes on the New York State government’s webpage devoted to the Tappan Zee Bridge upgrades, which also includes details of the plan, a schedule for various public hearings, and all the latest news. For construction alerts, keep checking the deck replacement project updates page. And, as always, we’d love to hear from you on your commuting experiences.